Who Told You I Was Weak?

Seeing Qu Tairan's tension, Lin Junyu reassured him loudly.

"General Qu, do not let them drive a wedge between us. I am the Empire's Third Prince—what benefit would rebellion bring me at a time like this? Though my abilities may be limited, I still understand the meaning of loyalty and devotion to one's country."

"On the other hand, ten esteemed flag captains, what are your intentions in slandering and defaming an imperial prince like this? Do not forget that besides being a prince, I am also a frontline military officer personally appointed by my imperial father, with the authority to supervise the army."

As he spoke, Lin Junyu walked over to the table in the center of the main tent and sat down. Bracing his hands on his knees, he leaned forward and swept an oppressive gaze across the ten flag captains, whose expressions varied greatly, before uttering words that made their faces change drastically.

"Could it be that you want me dead? So that the front lines and Yuanjing fall into chaos, the troops lose their resolve, and the demon army finds an opening to exploit?"

"Yes or no!"

Lin Junyu's final words boomed like thunder in everyone's ears. The surrounding soldiers, as well as Qu Tairan, who had previously harbored hostility toward Lin Junyu, all glared at the ten men with dark expressions. Could it truly be as the Third Prince said—that they wanted chaos on the front lines?

The ten flag captains had never expected that not only would they fail to pin the label of rebellion on Lin Junyu, but they themselves would be saddled with an enormous accusation. Not only treason, but collusion with the enemy—an offense severe enough to implicate nine generations of one's family! And they were even suspected of plotting to harm imperial royalty. Not even ten generations would be enough to pay for that!

Under the murderous stares of the surrounding soldiers, cold sweat streamed down the backs of the ten men trapped in the encirclement. Lin Junyu's gaze pressed down on them as well, for he had exposed the little thoughts hidden in their hearts with a single sentence.

"I-I know I was wrong! I beg Your Highness the Third Prince to forgive me!"

At last, one of the more timid flag captains could no longer endure it. He immediately dropped to his knees and repeatedly kowtowed. He must have had lard clogging his brain just now to think of killing the Third Prince.

If he truly killed the Third Prince, causing chaos across the front lines and Yuanjing and allowing the demon race to seize the opportunity, would the Second Prince behind him really be able to protect them?

When the other nine flag captains saw that one of their own had already caved, what might originally have been explained away had now become a settled matter. Whether they were guilty or not, whether such intentions existed or not, they could only accept their fate.

They glared viciously at the man crawling on the ground and begging for mercy. What a traitor, what a spineless coward—dragging all of us down with him.

Thus, without hesitation, the remaining nine immediately knelt down as well, admitting that they had spoken improperly and begging His Highness for forgiveness.

"Hmph! The battle at the front is urgent, so I cannot be bothered to pursue this matter further. Otherwise, merely for slandering an imperial prince and deliberately seeking to throw the front lines into chaos, I could have your heads chopped off. Now, return at once and gather the troops under your command. Follow me to reinforce Jiashan Fortress!"

The ten flag captains' eyes immediately began darting about as they exchanged looks and conveyed their thoughts.

Heh, in the end, doesn't he still need us to mobilize the troops? I thought he really dared to kill us.

Besides, mobilizing troops without orders was an ironclad law. Those who moved troops without authorization faced only death. They had only just established ties with the Second Prince; they would not foolishly follow this weakling prince to their deaths.

"Your Highness the Third Prince, without an imperial decree or a marshal's order, we cannot mobilize the troops!"

The ten men answered in unison, full of confidence.

Heh heh, good, very good. It seemed he had shown them too many smiles. These ten idiots truly would not give up until they saw the coffin.

He had kept them alive so he could better control the hundred-thousand-strong army, but they were not indispensable. Since they insisted on seeking death, he would grant their wish.

"Guards! Execute these ten men on the spot for slandering an imperial prince and deliberately causing chaos on the front lines!"

"Yes!"

The Feather Forest Army soldiers in the tent immediately drew their sabers and charged at the ten men!

The ten flag captains had not expected Lin Junyu to actually strike. In the blink of an eye, two of them had already been cut down.

By the time they reacted and saw their comrades from the same boat being hacked to death before their very eyes, the remaining eight were consumed by fury.

"Outrageous!"

With a roar, the men immediately began to resist fiercely.

None of those who had risen to become flag captains were ordinary men. In an instant, several soldiers were knocked to the ground, and their swords were seized.

With sharp weapons in hand, the flag captains coordinated with one another. Rich in combat experience, they charged at the soldiers surrounding them. In an instant, several soldiers were struck down and killed!

Seeing that there was no longer any room for reconciliation, the eight men forced the soldiers back and charged toward Lin Junyu, who sat at the table ahead. To capture bandits, capture their leader first—and in their eyes, Lin Junyu was merely a weakling. Capturing him would be effortless, would it not?

Seeing the eight men rushing toward him, Lin Junyu did not panic in the slightest. Instead, he remained utterly unconcerned.

"Be careful, Your Highness the Third Prince!"

Qu Tairan, who had been protected behind numerous soldiers before the conflict began, was instead frantic with worry now. If the Third Prince died in the ferry camp, the consequences would be unimaginable!

After so many years of cultivating his character, he had reached a state where even if monstrous waves crashed down upon him, he could remain unmoved.

Yet what had happened today had shattered the composure he had cultivated over all those years. His defenses had been broken twice already, each time putting his heart to the test.

However, after suffering so many shocks, he felt that nothing else could possibly make him lose his composure.

But what happened next made his jaw drop.

"Bold!"

As the eight men rushed before him and prepared to seize him, Lin Junyu's body gave a slight tremor.

A powerful force erupted violently from his body, exploding outward in every direction!

The eight men were instantly blasted backward by the erupting force. The tremendous impact sent them crashing heavily to the ground.

"What? How can this be?"

"Wasn't he a good-for-nothing?"

"Why does he possess such tremendous power?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I must be dreaming! How could this be possible?!"

The eight men lay sprawled on the ground, vomiting blood. The searing pain from the severe internal injuries caused by that unexpected blow forced them to face reality.

"You have been hiding your strength all along. How can you be this strong? You are not a good-for-nothing! Hahaha, you hid it so well—you deceived the entire Empire! Cough, cough, cough!"

All eight men's eyes filled with intense shock and fear. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that the worthless trash they had always believed him to be possessed such terrifying strength.

Compared to those eight narrow-minded bannermen, Qu Tairan, with his far greater experience, looked as though his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.

"Was that the Light Ripple Art at mastery?"

It was unfamiliar—too unfamiliar. Shocking—far too shocking.

Unlike the others, Qu Tairan believed he had watched Lin Junyu grow up, since his granddaughter often dragged him along to visit their home.

It was precisely because he knew him so well that he was even more astonished. In his eyes, Lin Junyu truly had been a martial arts good-for-nothing.

Yet now, at just eighteen, he had cultivated the royal nation-protecting technique to mastery. Wasn't that the mark of a martial arts prodigy?

Who said he was useless? This was simply too genius!

To have begun concealing himself from such a young age, and to have spent years around him without revealing the slightest flaw—never allowing him to discover anything—such scheming and patience were terrifying. His strength had become secondary by comparison!

He had a premonition that if the crisis at Jiashan Fortress was resolved this time, Far Capital would once again be swept up in monstrous waves. The situation was about to change drastically!

Lin Junyu rose to his feet and walked step by step toward the eight heavily injured men lying on the ground. He crouched down before the man who had questioned him earlier.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at him with a wicked grin.

"Who told you I was weak?"

"Of course it was—"

Just as he was about to say the name, someone beside him immediately tugged at his sleeve, cutting him off.

Naturally, Lin Junyu saw their little gesture and could not help but sneer.

"Heh. What loyal dogs you are. Do you think I won't know just because you refuse to speak? You idiots who do not even realize you let something slip—you're not worth wasting my time on!"

Lin Junyu stood and waved to the soldiers behind him, telling them to continue the task they had left unfinished.

This time, there was no resistance. Several men were dragged across the ground and pulled out of the tent.

"You'll die horribly! We'll be waiting for you down there!"

"I don't want to die! I was wrong, Third Prince! It was all the Second Prince's doing! I'm willing to pledge loyalty to you—please spare me!"

"I don't want to die either! Please forgive me! I'll never dare again! Those few forced me to do it!"

Once everyone had been dragged out, waves of screams rang out from outside. Then the entire tent fell silent in an instant.

"Lin Junyu, do you know what consequences there will be for killing ten imperial bannermen at once?"

Qu Tairan pushed aside the several burly soldiers standing before him, strode directly up to Lin Junyu, and demanded an answer.

"Old General Qu, let's not discuss such trivial matters. The obstacles have been cleared away. We should discuss the arrangements for reinforcing Jiashan Fortress."

Lin Junyu had given them a chance, but they had refused it. There was nothing else to be done.

"Hmph. We haven't seen each other in only two years, and your nerve has grown considerably. Killing bannermen is now a trivial matter? And what is going on with your strength?"

"Old man, my strength is a secret. Just assume I had a fortunate encounter. The most urgent matter right now is reinforcing Jiashan Fortress. We don't know how Zichuan Shengxing is doing over there. Every minute we delay increases Jiashan's danger by another degree."

"Hmph. Didn't you just kill ten bannermen? Why not kill me too? Then you can do whatever you want with this army of one hundred thousand. I'll be dead anyway!"

Naturally, Lin Junyu understood what Qu Tairan was thinking. As long as he remained in the military camp, he had to obey military orders. Otherwise, violating military discipline would implicate the entire Qu family. Unless he died, none of it would have anything to do with him.